PROTEST 1 MAY

We are not slaves, more than 7.500 brave workers say NO to the protest which was organized by SSM.

With the sounds of "The Internationale" and "Bella ciao", today's May Day workers' protest organized by SSM started.

“We built you a state, you left us without a salary”, "Your luxury is from our work", “Everything to stop, the worker to stay”,  "Prices have risen, wages have fallen" were just some of the messages written on banners carried by workers marching through the streets of Skopje.

The President of SSM, Darko Dimovski, reiterated the demands for a linear salary increase of 2,806 denars to all employees starting from tomorrow and the signing of a general collective agreement by which workers will be able to enjoy all rights due to law. A clear message was sent to the employers, either the complaint will be withdrawn before the constitutional court, which disputes Sunday as a non-working day, or they will face a strike. "If we lose, you will lose too," Dimovski said.

Employers and bosses, we can not be your slaves seven days a week. We will block everything and very easily this protest can be turned into a strike, which means interruption of work during working hours. If we suffer damage and you will suffer damage too, said the President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM), Darko Dimovski from today's May Day protest, addressing the demands once again - a linear increase of 2,806 denars in all wages in the country and withdrawal of the complaint about Sunday non-working day by the Constitutional Court.

"Here, we will be fair,  because you are just complaining that you do not have money, so our propose is 2,806 denars a linear salary increase from a hygienist to the Prime Minister," said Darko Dimovski.

The increase in salaries should happen day faster because the economic crisis has eaten us, the inflation is higher and we need that money more and more. Let us warn you again, to withdraw the complaint about a non-working day on Sunday because that is a reality in the country - the worker uses that benefit - rest, noted the president of SSM in his short speech in front of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia.

Linear salary increase immediately for at least 2,806 denars and signing of a General Collective Agreement in the public and private sector that will regulate the salary increase and the return of the lost right to recourse for annual leave,- those are the key demands of SSM addressed to the Government of North Macedonia.

SSM emphasizes that the burden of the crisis should not fall only on the employee. There is no more time to wait and the requirements must be met a day soon, because the worker has been brought to the brink of subsistence, said SSM.

The government, meanwhile, has vowed to fight with unions to promote workers' rights and higher wages.

The President of the Union of Civil Engineering, Industry and Desing of Macedonia, Ivan Peshevski, and Igor Gerasov from the Union of Industry, Mining and Energy, took speeches in front of the Government.

- We had many reasons for organizing today's protest. For months, we have been pointing out the stagnation of the state and the deepening of the crisis. The enormous burden of the crisis must not fall on the employee only. With this protest, we want to point out that in these key moments the state, the Government, and the employer did not show will, which resulted in the cessation of the social dialogue. The burden of the crisis must be borne by all, not just the workers who have been brought to the brink of endurance.  We have left you too much time, said Pesevski in his address.

Our voice is as important as yours, we offer our contribution, but we also demand our rights. We are not satisfied with your ignorant attitude, we are neglected, oppressed, and in a life-threatening position from the stagnation of the state, and your refusal and disinterest made us defend our rights on the street. Patience is over, we will not wait any longer, we were civilized and constructive, but we did not get anything. Now it's your time to make a move, you have received our demands from which we do not deviate. We demand that these rights of ours be considered in the Government immediately, Peshevski was decisive.

More photos on the folowing link:

https://www.facebook.com/ssmmkd/photos/pcb.522292966075655/522291609409124/